OKEHAMPTON Run-ning Club hosted the second race in its summer series on Saturday, the Great West Fell Race.

This five mile race, with 415m of ascent, takes runners up Yes Tor and then to the highest point in the south of England, High Willhays, with stunning views from the top. There is then a somewhat mad descent over rough grass to Black Tor before runners follow a path back down Longstone Hill to the finish at Meldon Dam.

The weather was kind to the runners when the clouds came across just before the start making for better running conditions. With 13 runners Okehampton was well represented and first ORC home was Rob Hicks, winner of the Cosdon Hill Race three weeks earlier, who had another excellent run, finishing in 38 minutes 47 seconds and coming second to a very sharp Peter Devonport of Bude Rats. Okehampton’s Katie Littlejohns won the first lady with a terrific run in 52.22 with Lucy Skye coming third in 56.31. 

Other ORC times;  Hugh Robinson; 46.33, Greg Millar; 55.18, Jason Ewing; 56.17, Charlotte Collyer; (first female veteran 40) 1.00.26, Andy Collyer; 1.00.27, Hannah Ramsey; 1.021.55, Christine Fritsch; 1.05.22, Danielle Fullford-Brown; (1st FV50)1.08.29, Sarah Haigh; 1.14.112. Unfortunately, Andy Vallance had to retire after pulling a calf muscle on the descent from High Willhays.

Several Okehampton runners had saved their legs to run the Totnes 10k the next day. This multi-terrain race is slightly misleadingly described as a flattish course with one hill, but in reality was a tough 10k with an undulating course, a couple of steep hills following twisting paths through fields, woodland and riverbank trails.

In a complete reverse of the day before, early cloud and drizzle turned into hot sunshine five minutes before the start. Roger Voaden was the first ORC home in a good time of 40.39 to take the second male veteran 50 prize. Jane Jackson was the first of the two ORC ladies finishing in 54.14, to claim first female veteran 60 and just two seconds short of the FV60 course record with its £25 prize! 

Other ORC times: Robert Kelly; 41.42, Chris Turner; 42.47, Paul Carter; 44.00, Nick Seccombe; 46.23, Mags Jarvis; 1.02.09.

Earlier in the week four ORCs took part in the Run Exe 5k series, which has been running throughout the spring and summer. There has been ORC representation at each one of these so far and this time Roger Voaden, Rob Kelly, Nick Seccombe and Stuart May took to the course. All ran well, with Roger Voaden home first in an impressive 18 minutes for another Platinum Club award. Just behind him was Rob Kelly, who, although running consistently well, has not actually scored a personal best for three years, but set an excellent new PB of 18.01.

Nick Seccombe finished well in 18.30 and Stuart May in 20.26.